ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Union College men's soccer team was picked to finish fifth in the 2013 Appalachian Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, which was announced Wednesday by the conference office. Overall, the Bulldogs received 60 points in the ranking.

Topping the poll is defending AAC Tournament Champion Tennessee Wesleyan, who garnered 94 total points and five first place votes. Bryan (Tenn.) comes in second with 87 points (three first place votes), followed by last season's AAC regular season champion Milligan (Tenn.), who garnered 85 points (two first place votes) to place third.

In fourth is Reinhardt, who edged the Bulldogs with 61 points. Behind Union in the ranking are Virginia Intermont (49 points), St. Andrews (N.C.) (34 points), new AAC member Truett-McConnell (Ga.) (33 points), Montreat (N.C.) (32 points), and Point (Ga.) (10 points).

The Bulldogs, led by head coach Tyler Brock who is entering his 11th season leading the program, looks to improve on last season's 7-9-2 overall mark, 2-5-2 in the AAC with a young squad.

Top returnees for Union include junior midfielder Jonathan Watson, who was an All-AAC second team selection last season after scoring 12 goals, and senior midfielder Joe Butcher, who was picked to the All-AAC third team after dishing out 13 assists, the second highest mark in the AAC at the end of the season.

Union opens their 2013 slate on Aug. 30, hosting Emmanuel (Ga.) at Burch/Nau Field as a part of the inaugural Thomas Trammel Memorial Classic. Things are set to get underway at 12 noon.